Easy DIY Rental Home Maintenance

Marina Shlomov - Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Every home needs a little tender loving care to keep it running right. Keeping Stone Mountain rental homes in good working order may require some maintenance from time to time. However, there are some simple things you can do yourself to help maintain your rental home. Here are a few of the possibilities.

Leaky Faucets

The primary cause of leaky faucets in home rentals in Decatur is old washers in need of replacement. Faucet washers are made of rubber and get a lot of use. As a result, they can wear out quickly. Before replacing the washer, turn the water supply valve to the off position, remove the leaky faucet handle assembly, remove the old washer and replace it with a new one. You’ll be leak free in no time.

Keeping Your Drains Open

Every other month or so, pour one fourth cup of baking soda down your shower drain, tub and sinks, and chase this down with a little warm water. Next, pour a cup of white vinegar and allow the mixture to stand in the drain for a few hours so any soap scum and residue gets dissolved. Then to finish, run hot water to rinse the mixture through the drain.

Windows Seeping Cold or Hot Air

Whether you are in your own home or in house rentals, drafts of air coming in around the windows can be a problem and a cause of elevated energy bills. If you check the area around your windows and find the caulking cracking or deteriorating, replacing it will improve your energy efficiency and cost savings. Use a box cutter, pointed knife, straight edge or utility knife to remove the old caulk. Steadily run a new line of caulk into the window’s seams and allow time to dry before using the window.

Kitchen Drain Preventive Maintenance

To prevent a clogged drain, instead of pouring leftover grease down the kitchen sink after cooking your dinner, pour it into an old orange juice carton and keep it in the refrigerator. If the grease is poured down the sink, it will harden and build up, causing problems later. When garbage day rolls around, simply toss the old grease container out with the rest of the trash.

Refrigerator Care

For taking the best care of your house rental’s refrigerator, here are a few tips.

Using warm soapy water, clean out shelving, interior and exterior, including handles, on a regular basis.

Open a box of baking soda and place it on a low shelf in the refrigerator to eliminate odors, replacing as needed.